June Visiting Teaching Message

 

 

Visiting Teaching Message

 

Joy in Family History

Prayerfully study this material and, as appropriate, discuss it with the sisters you visit.  Use the questions to help you strengthen your sisters to make Relief Society an active part of your own life.  For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org

Joy in Family History

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has taught that the Spirit of Elijah is “a manifestation of the Holy Ghost bearing witness of the divine nature of the famiy”¹

 

As members of Christ’s restored Church, we have the covenant responsibility to search for our ancestors and provide for them the saving ordinances of the gospel.  They without us cannot “be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:40), and “neither can we without our dead be made perfect” (D&C 128:15).

 

Family History work prepared us for the blessings of eternal life and helps us increase our faith and personal righteousness.  Family history is a vital part of the mission of the Church and enables the work of salvation and exaltation for all.

President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said: “When we research our own lines we become interested in more than just names, … Our interest turns our hearts to our fathers – we seek to find them and to know them and to serve them.”²

 

From the Scriptures

Malachi 4:5-6; 1Corinthians 15:29;

D&C 124:28-36; 128:15

From Our History

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead.”³ We can serve as proxy in the temple for our deceased ancestors and perform necessary ordinances for them.

Sally Randall of Nauvoo, Illinois, whose 14-year-old son died, found great comfort in the promise of eternal families.  After her husband was baptized for their son, she wrote to her relatives; “What a glorious thing it is that we … can be baptized for all of our dead [ancestors] and save them as far back as we can get any knowledge of them.”  Then she asked her relatives to send her information on their ancestors, saying, “I intend to do what I can to save [our family].”4

What Can I Do?

 

1.  How can I help the sisters I watch over to do family history?

 

2.  Am I recording my personal history?

Notes

1. Russell M. Nelson, “A New Harvest Time,” Ensign, May 1998, 34

 

2.  Boyd K. Packer, “Your Family History; Getting Started,”  Ensign, Ang. 2003, 17.

 

3.  Teachings of Presidents of the Church; Joseph  Smith (2007), 475.

 

4.  See Daughters in My Kingdom:  The History and Work of Relief Society (2011), 21.

 

Official Website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © 2013 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All Rights Reserved



May Visiting Teaching Message

Visiting Teaching Message

Strengthening Families and Homes

Prayerfully study this material and, as appropriate, discuss it with the sisters you visit.  Use the questions to help you strengthen your sisters to make Relief Society an active part of your own life.  For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org

Strengthening Families and Homes

Strengthening at Every Opportunity

“Each of us is in a different family situation.  Some families have a mother and father with children at home.  Some couples no longer have children at home.  Many members of the Church are single, and some are single parents.  Others are widows or widowers living alone.

“No matter what our family looks like, each of us can work to strengthen our own families or help in strengthening others.

“[Once} I stayed in the home of my niece and her family.  That evening before the children went to bed, we had a short family home evening and a scripture story.  Their father told about the family of Lehi and how he taught his children that they must hold fast to the iron rod, which is the word of God.  Holding fast to the ion rod would keep them safe and lead them to joy and happiness.  If they should let go of the iron rod, there was danger of drowning in the river of dirty water.

“To demonstrate this to the children, their mother became the ‘iron rod’ that they must cling to, and their father played the role of the devil, trying to pull the children away from safety and happiness.  The children loved the story and learned how important it is to hold fast to the iron rod.  After the scripture story it was time for family prayer.

“Scriptures, family home evening, and family prayer will strengthen families.  We need to take every opportunity to strengthen families and support one another to stay on the right path.”¹

From the Scriptures

Genesis 18:19; Mosiah 4:15; D&C 93”40; Moses 6:55-58

From Our History

From the beginning Relief Society has had a charge to strengthen families and homes.  The Prophet Joseph taught sisters at an early Relief Society meeting, “When you go home, never give a cross or unkind word to your husbands, but let kindness, charity and love crown your works henceforward.”²

In 1914 President Joseph F. Smith told Relief Society sisters, “Wherever there is ignorance or at least a lack of understanding in regard to the family, … there this organization exists or is near at hand, and by the natural endowments and inspiration that belongs to the organization they are prepared and ready to impart instructions with reference to those important duties.”³

What Can We Do?

1.  What ideas for strengthening families and homes will you share with your sisters?  As you ponder their individual circumstances, the Spirit can bring ideas to your mind.

2.  What priorities can you change this month to better strengthen you own family and home?

Notes

1.  Barbara Thompson, “His Arm Is Sufficient,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2009, 84

2.  Teachings of Presidents of the Church; Joseph Smith (2007, 482

3.  Teachings of Presidents of the Church; Joseph F. Smith (1998), 186

Official Website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © 2013 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All Rights Reserved

May Birthdays

   HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

  

    2           Haley Ferrin

    7           Rosa Aviles

    7           Kathy Donnelly

    9           Ashely Lervold

  10           Puna’ava Suluape

  15           Kathy Huffmire

  16           Dorothea Meeks

  18           Camilla Gallacher

  19           Tracy Hernandez

  19           Sheryll Seymour

  22           Lisa Burnam

  23           Brenda Lucas

  24          Dana Bronson

  24           Laurie Tribby

  27           Kristin Asay

  29           Laura Becker

  29           Gail Schwenzfeier

 

April Birthdays

4 Christine Wopershall
5 Amelia Francis
9 Sopi Schow
15 Geraldine Christian
15 Dominique Marshall
15 Jackie Taylor
17 Julie Pearce
19 Lisa Pearce
22 Diane Huddleston
22 Alison Tornow
25 Liamara Haskins
26 Kelly Medel
27 Megan Thomer
30 Mona Marche-Arrendondo

April Visiting Teaching Message

Visiting Teaching Message    April 2013

Temple Covenants

Prayerfully study this material and, as appropriate, discuss it with the sisters you visit. Use the questions to help you strengthen your sisters and to make Relief Society an active part of your own life. For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.

Temple Covenants

“The saving ordinances received in the temple that permit us to someday return to our Heavenly Father in an eternal family relationship and to be endowed with blessings and power from on high are worth every sacrifice and every effort,”¹ said President Thomas S. Monson. If you have not yet been to the temple, you can prepare to receive sacred temple ordinances by:

Believing in Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

 Cultivating a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the restored gospel.

Sustaining and following the living prophet.

Qualifying for a temple recommend by paying tithing, being morally clean, being honest, keeping the Word of Wisdom, and living in harmony with the teachings of the Church.

Giving time, talents, and means to help build the Lord’s kingdom.

Participating in family history work.²

President Monson further taught, “As we remember the covenants we make within [the temple], we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation.”³

From the Scriptures

Doctrine and Covenants 14:7; 25:13; 109:22

From Our History

“More than 5,000 Saints thronged the Nauvoo Temple after its dedication. …

“The strength, power, and blessings of temple covenants [sustained] the Latter-day Saints during their journey [west], when they [suffered] cold, heat, hunger, poverty, sickness, accidents, and death.”⁴

Like many Relief Society sisters, Sarah Rich served as a temple worker. She spoke of her experience: “If it had not been for the faith and knowledge that was bestowed upon us in that temple by … the Spirit of the Lord, our journey would have been like one taking a leap in the dark. … But we had faith in our Heavenly Father, … feeling that we were His chosen people … , and instead of sorrow, we felt to rejoice that the day of our deliverance had come.”⁵

The exodus was not a “leap in the dark” for faithful Latter-day Saint women. They were sustained by their temple covenants.

What Can I Do?

 Am I worshipping in the temple regularly?

 Am I encouraging my sisters to receive temple blessings?

Notes

1. Thomas S. Monson, “The Holy Temple—a Beacon to the World,” Ensign, May 2011, 92.

      2. See Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society (2011), 21.

     3.  Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, May 2011, 93.

    4.  Daughters in My Kingdom, 29–30.

   5.  Sarah Rich, in Daughters in My Kingdom, 30.

Official Web site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
© 2013 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Pinterest Party RS Night

Thanks to everyone who came to our RS Night this past Tuesday. We celebrated the RS Birthday with a great pinterest dinner recipe and by doing some fun simple crafts. Thanks to everyone who helped contribute to the night.

 

Samples of sisters Pinterest projects

The How to Use Pinterest Tutorial. Thanks Lisa!

The coasters we made.

 

 

Pinterest Party

 We will be making 4x4 tile coasters with scrapbook paper. Bring your own pictures if you would like to put a picture on your coaster. Everyone can make a set of 4 as a gift for someone or for your own home.

 

We will also be making candy jars from baby food jars. Great for an easter gift, visiting teaching, party favors, or for your home. Customize them anyway you would like.

 

Everything is free and no need to sign up for any crafts, everything will be available to everyone the night of. Hope to see you there!!